GORHAM, Maine –  Working together since the 2018 academic year, University of Southern Maine Athletics is continuing its partnership with the Campus Safety Project this fall.  Even though there is no competition on campus this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Huskies' Athletics and its student-athletes are still taking an active role in Domestic Violence Awareness Month, following the leadership and guidance of the Campus Safety Project.

In lieu of games, Huskies' Athletics is one of several sites on campus where interested parties can help domestic abuse survivors, benefitting Through These Doors (TTD). Through These Doors (TTD), a local domestic violence organization has expressed a need for socks for those who access their shelter and transitional housing program during times of crisis.  Socks can be any color, any size, and fit for any gender; however, the majority of those in need are women.   For a successful donation, all socks must be clean and unused.  The collection began on Monday, October 5 and will conclude on Thursday, October 22.  Sock donations can be left at the Costello Sports Complex outside of the office of Associate Director of Athletics Kim Turner.

"We are committed to continue working with the Campus Safety Project and to use our platform on campus to help drive awareness and to assist in this charitable endeavor," noted Turner.  "Domestic violence has no place in our society and it's is something we should all strive to eliminate.  The work of The Campus Safety Project, and organizations like Through These Doors, provide valuable education and support services to many."

The conclusion of the sock drive will coincide with Purple Thursday, in which University of Southern Maine community members are encouraged to wear an item of purple to help raise awareness around Domestic Violence.  In previous years, USM student-athletes wore purple as part of their competition uniforms, but will be adapting to items of purple during their practice or strength and conditioning sessions. 

The USM Campus Safety Project is a university-wide initiative aimed to address stalking, dating/ domestic violence, and sexual assault on campus through prevention education and response initiatives for students, faculty, and staff, as well as coordinating campus and community-based programs and services. Funded through a three-year grant (USM's third round of funding) from the Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women, the Campus Safety Project has helped USM make sure that we have the policies, procedures, and resources to address sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking on the University of Southern Maine's campuses.

For more information and upcoming programming events, check out USM Campus Safety Project at usm.maine.edu/campussafetyproject and follow on Facebook at facebook.com/USMCampusSafetyProject, on Instagram at @campussafetyproject4usm